Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1983

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Speech Pathology

Major Professor

Harold L. Luper

Committee Members

Harold A. Peterson, Bernard Silverstein

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the frequency of disfluencies and specific types of disfluency to length and complexity of language structure in the speech of five-year-old male nonstutterers in two speaking situations on three different days.

Six speech samples were recorded for each subject in a structured speaking situation and in a spontaneous speaking situation once a week over a period of three weeks. Speech samples from each child in each speaking situation were transcribed from the tape recordings by the examiner. Disfluencies were identified and classified by use of Johnson's (1959) categories of disfluencies. The total frequency of disfluencies was calculated as described by Darley and Spriestersbach (1978). The language structure in each speaking situation was analyzed using Shriner's (1967) Length-Complexity Index (LCI) as scored by Miner (1969).

In order to determine if there was a significant difference in the overall frequency of disfluencies between the two speaking situations on each day of recording, a two factor design for repeated measures analysis of variance procedure was used. Results indicated that the percentage of disfluency was significantly higher in the structured speaking situation. There was not a significant difference, however, in disfluency frequency among the three days.

The three most frequently occurring types of disfluencies were calculated for each speaking situation. For the group as a whole, the most frequently occurring types in the structured speaking situation were interjection, revision, and word-repetition respectively, while in the spontaneous speaking situation they were part-word repetition, word repetition and interjection respectively.

A two factor design for repeated measures was used to determine if there were significant differences in Length-Complexity Index (LCI) scores between the two speaking situations on the three days of recording. Results indicated significantly higher LCI scores in the structured speaking situation. No significant difference was found in LCI scores among the three days. A Pearson product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between the overall frequency of disfluencies and LCI scores in the two speaking situations. No significant correlation was found in either speaking situation.

The results of this study support some previous findings reported in the literature regarding disfluencies and the relationship to language usage, while failing to support others. On the basis of the results, the following conclusions may be drawn:

1. There was a significant difference in the frequency of disfluencies between the two speaking situations. The subjects exhibited more disfluencies in the interview speaking situation than in the spontaneous speaking situation.

2. For the group as a whole, there was no significant difference in the frequency of disfluencies among the three days, however, individual variability existed.

3. For the group as a whole, the three most frequently occurring types of disfluencies were: interjection, revision, and word repetition for the structured speaking situation; and interjection, word repetition, and phrase repetition in the spontaneous speaking situation.

4. The five-year-old nonstutterers had significantly higher Length-Complexity Index (LCI) scores in the interview speaking situation than in the spontaneous speaking situation.

5. For the group as a whole, there was no significant difference in LCI scores among the three days, however individual variability existed.

6. Frequency of disfluency and LCI scores were not significantly related in either speaking situation.

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